For Charles Spurgeon, prayer should always be mixed with thanksgiving.
Spurgeon, called "the Prince of Preachers" in his day, declares that requests to God gather strength and power as they mingle with praise and thanksgiving to the Lord.
"Let us perpetually thank our benefactor for what we have while we make request for something more," he says in Twelve Sermons on Thanksgiving, one of many books flowing from the pen of the great Baptist preacher in London in the late 1800s.
We should even thank God in the midst of trouble just as we pray to have the trouble removed, he writes.
As we struggle with a problem, we should remember God's great goodness to us in the past. Indeed, we should believe in faith that God is allowing the trouble out of love and for his purposes.
Sounds tough, doesn't it? But many believers have testified to the power of an attitude of gratitude in their lives.
As we pray, we can recall what God has already done for us and gain confidence in praying for more.
Spurgeon goes even further on thanksgiving, saying that we should offer thanks ahead of time for God's response to our prayers.
He points to George Muller, another great 19th century British believer, who depended on God to supply the needs of his great orphanages through prayer.
Muller put into practice what Jesus said in Mark 11:24: "I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."
Of course, Muller spent a lot of time in meditating on scripture and praying and seeking the Holy Spirit to discover the will of God in particularly difficult circumstances. Once he was convinced what God wanted in the situation, he would pray with thanksgiving, certain that the Lord would give a positive answer.
We should also thank God even when he does not give us what we want. It may be that a "yes" answer would hurt us more than help us.
Spurgeon adds: "Healthy praise and thanksgiving must be cultivated, because they prevent prayer from becoming overgrown with the mildew of selfishness."
"Praise in a prayer is indicative of a humble, submissive, obedient spirit," he goes on, "and when it is absent we may suspect wilfulness and self-seeking."
When prayer and thanksgiving work together, we become aware of God's peace in our hearts.
Spurgeon quotes the apostle Paul's great words in Philippians 4:6-7:
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."
Both Paul and Spurgeon lived what they preached.
They are examples to live by.
Spurgeon, called "the Prince of Preachers" in his day, declares that requests to God gather strength and power as they mingle with praise and thanksgiving to the Lord.
"Let us perpetually thank our benefactor for what we have while we make request for something more," he says in Twelve Sermons on Thanksgiving, one of many books flowing from the pen of the great Baptist preacher in London in the late 1800s.
We should even thank God in the midst of trouble just as we pray to have the trouble removed, he writes.
As we struggle with a problem, we should remember God's great goodness to us in the past. Indeed, we should believe in faith that God is allowing the trouble out of love and for his purposes.
Sounds tough, doesn't it? But many believers have testified to the power of an attitude of gratitude in their lives.
As we pray, we can recall what God has already done for us and gain confidence in praying for more.
Spurgeon goes even further on thanksgiving, saying that we should offer thanks ahead of time for God's response to our prayers.
He points to George Muller, another great 19th century British believer, who depended on God to supply the needs of his great orphanages through prayer.
Muller put into practice what Jesus said in Mark 11:24: "I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."
Of course, Muller spent a lot of time in meditating on scripture and praying and seeking the Holy Spirit to discover the will of God in particularly difficult circumstances. Once he was convinced what God wanted in the situation, he would pray with thanksgiving, certain that the Lord would give a positive answer.
We should also thank God even when he does not give us what we want. It may be that a "yes" answer would hurt us more than help us.
Spurgeon adds: "Healthy praise and thanksgiving must be cultivated, because they prevent prayer from becoming overgrown with the mildew of selfishness."
"Praise in a prayer is indicative of a humble, submissive, obedient spirit," he goes on, "and when it is absent we may suspect wilfulness and self-seeking."
When prayer and thanksgiving work together, we become aware of God's peace in our hearts.
Spurgeon quotes the apostle Paul's great words in Philippians 4:6-7:
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."
Both Paul and Spurgeon lived what they preached.
They are examples to live by.
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